Final answer:
On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, marking a pivotal moment in the end of the Civil War. This event led to the surrender of other Confederate forces and the eventual return to peace. Key players included Lee and Grant, with Lee's surrender influenced by Union supremacy in numbers and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, a significant event in American history took place when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The exchange between Lee and Grant began on April 7 when Grant invited Lee to surrender, as continuation of the war appeared futile. After a series of letters, they met in person at the McLean House. The surrender marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy, as it led to subsequent surrenders of other Confederate forces.
The Confederate Surrender had been compelled by overwhelming Union numbers and resources, as described by Lee in his farewell address. With most of its major cities captured and resources depleted, the Confederacy's situation was dire. The fall of Richmond and the capitulation at Appomattox Court House signified the collapse of Confederate resistance, although other armies did not surrender immediately. This moment at Appomattox was pivotal in bringing the Civil War to a close, and it had a profound impact on the nation.
Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House was not instantaneously known throughout the South due to destroyed telegraph lines and lack of newspapers. However, the 'Appomattox Spirit' influenced other Confederate generals to surrender, eventually bringing all significant resistance to an end. The surrender was followed by events like the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the capture of Jefferson Davis.